Tex-Mex fusion cuisine includes Mexican dishes like tacos, burritos, tamales, and more, along with a few dishes unique to Texas. One prominent distinction between Mexican food and Tex-Mex food is the spice base; rather than fresh chiles, Tex-Mex dishes utilize chili powder made with cumin and oregano, in addition to plenty of cheese.

Food writer Robb Walsh notes that Tex-Mex is mostly served in restaurants; however, it originates with the cooking of the Tejanos, natives of Texas. As different cultures settled and emigrated in the area, the crossover of Spanish, Mexican, new American, and Native American cuisine gave birth to dishes like chili con carne and fajitas.

Tex-Mex encompasses a smaller, more defined set of dishes than Mexican food, and uses fewer ingredients with less laborious techniques. Chili, fajitas, queso, tacos with flour tortillas or hard shells, tortilla chips, and nachos are all distinctly Tex-Mex, and while the cuisine may be hard to define, its deliciousness is unquestionable.